Does poor Steven's day get any better?
Do new and amazing characters introduce themself this chapter?
I guess we'll just have to read to find out *Sigh*
ATTENTION: this was updated because I'm careless and left out a chapter. [seriously. what the hell happened.]
Chapter 2: The first encounter
Pulling the heavy sledgehammer over my shoulder, I swung It against the rock wall with tremendous force, using the full impact of my body. The rock shattered immediately, small pebbles piling at my feet. I smiled contentedly and picked my flashlight up off of a nearby rock, shining it at my little Aron.
"Could you help me find some stones?" I questioned, kneeling down and patting him on the head. Aron chirped in concurrence, nuzzling against my hand. The cool metal of his body was always soothing to me. I assume that's why I like to wear my silver rings…they always felt so nice against my skin.
So we both sat beside the pile of rocks and pebbles sorting through it for anything of originality.
I held my flashlight steadily in my left hand while sifting through the debris with my right. My little Aron was the luckier of us in this situation, his capability of seeing in the dark a humongous advantage for sitting in the quaint little granite cave of Dewford city, which I liked to call home.
Dewford, sadly, was not my home. In fact I lived in my crappy little apartment all the way on the other side of the region; so so far from this little paradise.
A lot of people called me crazy because of my opinion of enjoyable places. While most people would enjoy spending their time on hot sandy beaches, slathered in thick smelly tanning lotion, in over-revealing, uncomfortable martialed clothing, practically baking in the heat, the skin irritating salt water magnifying the powerful rays of the sun; while noisy Pokémon and children run around barbarically, causing even more sand to stick to your already sticky body-
I shivered at the thought.
I'd take a discreet, cool, moist, and relaxing cave over beaches any day. Especially the Slateport City beach on route 109. It is one of the worst places in the world. The trainers there are always squealing in delight to battle me there, making me work harder in the scorching heat than my body allows- and then I have to fight another lineup of damn Pokémon trainers just to get a drink at the soda pop stand! It's not humane!
Really, all it takes to satisfy me is a pick axe and some rocks and I'm good for hours, days even.
I gazed lazily at the chipped up, grey stone in my hand. It wasn't just any stone though, and I recognized it quite easily. I had come across an Everstone. Quite similar, but not as fine, or polished as the one that my precious Aron wore on a collar around its neck.
People would constantly beleaguer me as to why such a powerful trainer as myself would "restrict" my Pokémon by not letting it evolve. Though those louts have no clue what restricts a Pokémon. Most of the time narrow-minded trainers, such as themselves, are to blame for holding back their Pokémon. Either or, I loved my Aron just the way he was and in my eyes, my only true companion was perfect. He was the only one of my Pokémon that I could tolerate to be around all of the time, and it defiantly benefited our relationship.
I clutched the stone tighter in my hand and turned from the pile of rocks in front of me. Beginning to search for the small bag I brought to store my findings, I noticed a slight movement towards the entrance of my small cavern. I jumped at the slight movement and dropped both my rock and flashlight, leaving me blind in the dark. I heard my Aron make a faint inquisitive sound and he scampered to my side, nudging my thigh with his head.
"Who…Who's there?" I fumbled, trying to sound intimidating out of fear. I heard a slight gasp in response. Quiet footsteps came closer and I could see the scuffed sneakers and ankles of someone, thanks to my useless flashlight on the ground which rolled out of reach for me. I crawled backwards a little bit, having fallen in surprise. "Who's there?" I gasped, my voice obviously more nervous at this demand.
The mystery person bent down and grabbed my flashlight by their foot and shone it on me. Suddenly making me go blind thanks to the bright light. My Aron, being the wonderful little companion he was, growled defensively seeming ready to pounce on the unsuspecting traveler.
I covered by eyes automatically from the blaring sea of light and groaned, the light flicking off automatically. Then I heard his voice. It was young, I wasn't sure how young the boy was, but defiantly young. He sounded worried, almost frazzled. I was just confused why the boy disturbed me.
"Oh! I'm sorry! I-I didn't mean to…hurt your eyes. Are you okay?" The stranger asked, coming closer. I blinked the spots out of my eyes and whined, as they slowly faded from the dark surrounding me.
"Yeah…I'm just peachy." I groaned, not quite meaning to come off as a total ass, and failing miserably at it. Yet he just kept coming closer until he was beside me. I heard the sound of a Pokéballs releasing its contents and an unfamiliar cry of a Pokémon filled my ears. Then the boy made one simple command.
"Ralts, use Flash." He said silently, as a bright but comfortable light was emitted from the tiny psychic Pokémon. It was then that I realized I was practically on my back while the thin teen loomed over me.
I caught my first glimpse of those deep, excited ruby eyes staring wide at me. My heart faltered at the sight. His dark, ebony hair was askew beneath his nylon headband and white cap; pale, yet strong slender face smudged with random blotches of dirt, his loose red and black shirt that's sleeves were rolled up his lanky, defined arms; his black, tight fitted pants which were absolutely not suitable for traveling, most likely because of how strained they were against his body…I blushed vividly at the thought and refocused on the gem-like eyes.
"Are…are you Steven?" He asked quietly, his hand slipping into the messenger bag slung over his shoulder. I gnawed on my lip trying to conjure up an answer for him if he was just another one of those guppy trainers that wanted to battle me without going the whole nine yards to get there. But something about this boy… made me not care if he was just another one of them. So I was excuseless.
I nodded slowly, probably looking brain dead to the boy, but he smiled, yanking a thin envelope out of his pocket.
"Steven Stone, I am Brendan Birch from Littleroot town. Your father asked me to find you and bring you this letter." He announced, his voice seeming relieved. I eventually found the brain matter to stand up on my own two feet and take the letter from the boy. If he came from Littleroot town, that sure was a far way to travel. Plus he still looked so young. He obviously hadn't gotten the ability to fly on Pokémon yet, I would have heard about him by then, so he had to come all this way by foot. I needed some way to thank the boy.
"O-Oh….My father? You…work for my father?" Was what fell from my lips instead of a 'thank you' or something close to those pleasantries. Not only that, but I suffer from a rare, exotic, incurable disease that disabled me to cease talking once I began. It was really quite pitiful. "That's odd. I haven't seen you around any of the offices. Are you new? I didn't know my father worked children…is that even legal?" I pondered. Finally realizing how stupid I must have sounded to the boy. Emphasizing my point, my mouth hung wide open in disbelief of myself.
I must have seemed like a real nut job. Not only that, but the kid started laughing; not just laughing, but giggling. At my idiocy! That just proves it. I'm an absolute madman.
"No, I don't technically work for your dad. I just passed by his building and he figured you might be here, or at least I'd come across you because I was headed this way… so he asked me to give this to you…That's all." He said with a slight chuckle. I stumbled desperately for words, while my mouth just hung wide open. And then the weirdest thing happened. It was something that rarely…or more like…NEVER happened to me.
I blushed. And it wasn't just a quick little 'oops' blush. My whole face lit up like a candle. I could hear my heart thrumming in my ears and my hands went numb. I stuffed the letter anxiously into my back pocket and scuffled further away from the odd boy, grabbing my bag carefully.
"S…So uhm…Brendan? correct? Well…thank you for bringing me this and…h…here." I snatched a TM out of my bag and held the disc out to the boy. "Please…uhm…take this as a reward!" I put on a nervous smile, and turned my head away, trying to hide the vivid red that coated my face. The boy took it cautiously in his hand and rolled his eyes.
"I don't need I reward. I knew I would get here anyway. I don't need you to tell me how great I am."
My heart thrummed even harder and I stammered, though fighting for composure.
"Well…I…I never said…" I struggled only to be cut off by the seemingly arrogant boy again.
"It's cool Steve. I'll keep it." he said nonchalantly, shrugging his shoulders and tucking it into his bag. I mentally scowled at the nickname. Steve. Never in my life had I accepted the name, but I just let it go; my mind not in the proper state to argue, in fact it was more in the state of a gelatin desert dish. I scrambled to my feet, no longer able to stand being around the boy.
It wasn't that he did anything to me. This Brendan kid just made me go inane or something…I guess anyone would respond similarly if they were scared half to death in a dark cave.
I instinctually gathered all of my belongings, dashing out of the cavern with a short holler of "Well, Thanks…Bye!" as my Aron trotted close behind.
It turned out my eyes weren't the only part of me that was blinded that day.
*groan* Yes. i'm a disorganized mess. yes, i DID just fix chapter what...2? I left out an entire chunk on accident and just realized it.
this must have made it so awkward to follow.
I'm sorry! I don't even know how this happened... *cries in corner*
(hopefully this might clear up any confusion that may have been there.)
D: